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TOPSOCCER
Buddies Needed
Soccer
program for youth with special needs started its 2nd Fall
Season September 23 – Need More Buddies
We have a number of outstanding youth
representing all soccer clubs in the area signed up to be
buddies, but their soccer schedules keep them from attending
every session. Therefore, to ensure we have buddies for
every athlete every week, we need more to sign up.
We
understand many of our players will have game conflicts from
time to time and that they will not be able to make every
session. We've had many who just made one or two and have
had a great time and a rewarding experience.
Here are the details.
Sign Up To Be A Buddy
If you are a
youth soccer player, love soccer, want to give something
back to the game, and want to help someone with special
needs, TOPSoccer has a place for you. Buddies provide
support, guidance, and a play partner to the TOPSoccer
player. Buddies do not have to be a travel or school player
– all a prospective buddy needs is compassion for others and
love of the game. (If you are interested in being a buddy,
please e-mail Buddy Recruiting Coordinator Paul Mack at
Paul_J_Mack@aon.com and
include your name, age, school, and the team you play on.)
Here is some more information on the program.
About Richmond TOPSoccer
Local soccer
clubs are again joining with St. Joseph’s Villa to host the
Fall season of TOPSoccer, a program geared specifically to
introducing soccer to children with special needs.
TOPSoccer is an outreach effort under the auspices of United
States Youth Soccer (USYS) and the Virginia Youth Soccer
Association (VYSA).
The program
began in this area in Spring of 2006, marking the first time
TOPSoccer was offered in the Richmond area and making it the
19th such program to be introduced in Virginia. It is the
only program in the country run as a cooperative effort by
ALL of the soccer clubs in the area. The following clubs
participate: Ashland Youth Soccer League, Chesterfield
United Soccer Club, FC Richmond Soccer Club, Midlothian
Youth Soccer League, Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club, and
Richmond Strikers Soccer Club.
TOPSoccer
teams up youth soccer players with Richmond area special
needs children. Designed to enrich the lives of children
with special needs through the game of soccer, TOPSoccer is
open to any boy or girl, ages 4-19, who has a mental or
physical disability.
The youth
soccer players – called “buddies” help the TOPSoccer
athletes learn the game of soccer, or just enjoy moments of
physical activity, through a variety of soccer-themed
activities and games, appropriate to the age and ability of
players.
Each player
is matched with a local youth player “buddy” or buddies who
assist volunteer coaches and the TOPSoccer
athletes-participants in the learning process. St. Joseph’s
Villa and other volunteers provide special needs expertise.
Parents are a part of the program and are required to remain
on site throughout the sessions.
Fall Season
Session Dates:
Sundays –
September 23th through October 21 or October 28, 4:30-6:00
p.m. Please note two items
-
There
will be no session Columbus Day holiday weekend. All
sessions will be at St. Joseph’s Villa,
8000
Brook Rd, Richmond, VA 23227
Directions to St. Joseph's Villa
Take Exit
83-B off I-95 to Parham Rd (to Brook Road). Proceed to
second traffic light, Brook Road. Turn left onto Brook Rd.
Turn right at first traffic light into the St. Joseph's
Villa campus. Circle to the right of the church and proceed
to the right rear of the complex adjacent to Parham Road.
Signs will direct you to the athletic fields. After parking,
proceed to the fields, where registration will be held.
Follow the yellow signs.
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